Improvement in keys tor locks



com pan yin g drawings.4 i

' eine :I 5mm @met t IMPRovBMnNT 17N KEYS Fok LOCKS.

The Shedule'referred vto infseiletters .Patent and making part of the same.

To' all 'whomt't may concern.: v Be it known that I, F. W. SMHH, J r., of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield, and .State of Connecticut,

have invented a new Improvement in Lock-Key; and

I do hereby declarel the following, when taken in connection with theaceompanying drawings, and the letters otre-ference marked thereon', :to be a full, clear, and exact description of tl1e s a rne, andjwhich said drawings constitute part of this specificatieJ and represent, in-

Figure 1, aside view-. Figure 2,`an end viewwitlithe bits all in line; and in Figure 3, the same', with the bits turned to the operatingposition. This invention relates to an improvement in keys for locks, which are constructed with several tumblers or levers, the obj ect being to prevent the taking of an impression of the key; and consists in dividing the bit into several parts, one for each of the tumblers, and all pivoted so as to be turned from the same line to different" positions, and in those different positions they are in the 4proper position for operating the levers, and are so turned by the levers themselves, the bits all being in line when the key is inserted into the lock.

In order to the clear understandingof my invention, I willfully describe the same, as illustrated in the' ac- A is the barrel'of the key, ot' common construction.

i, 2, 3, 4, 5, several bits, which are usually made all iu one piece, but graduated in length, so as to properly operate the levers.

From a key so constructed, it is a very simpleand easy matter to take an impression, and produce a key which will operate the lock as perfectly as the original.

To avoid this, I make the several bits, intermediate between the two outer bits, in separate parts, all pivoted to the outer bit, at a, so as to turn from their position in line to diii'erent positions, as seen in iig. 3, a bearingT being formed between the bits and barrel of the key, so that each bit will be arrested when turned to its proper' position The key, with the bits all in line, as in iig. 3, is inserted into the' lock, and turned in the usual manner. The several bits striking their respective levers, are turned until they come to a bearing, Iand when they are so turned, they each operate to move their respective levers, so as to permit the movement of the bolt by the. further turning of the key, and in the'return of the key to the key-hole, the several bits are returned to their'" proper position, so that ithe key may be removed, the. key-hole being of the common form; therefore, a key constructed with the: bits in the requisite position could not be inserted into the key-hole.

I am aware of the patent otiT'ruls Yale, Jr., of July 412, 1853, and .do not wish to nderstood as claiming anything contained therein.

Having thus fully described my invention,

What I claim as new and useful, and desire to secu're by Letters Patent, is-- The arrangement, in a key, of one or more of several bits upon a pivot,.so as to be turned thereon to different angles, to a bearing, to operate in the manner and for the purpose substantially Vas specified.

' Y F. W. SMITH, J R. Witnesses:

J As. H. CROFUT,

H. T. BLAKE. 

